Introduction
Ofgem
has a tough but vitally important job. We are Great Britain's’ independent
energy regular working to improve the lives of customers today, especially
vulnerable people. We are also working
to build a lower carbon, lower cost and more secure energy system for the
future. This has never been a more important time to do so. Our energy market
has faced unprecedented price increases over the last 18 months and as a
result, this is a very tough winter for many households across Britain.
Ofgem
is doing everything we can to protect consumers today, but also to move our
energy system strategically away from reliance on international gas. This has
meant taking on new functions and responsibilities from government, both on the
regulatory and delivery side of our operations.
We
are responsible for:
•Working
with government, industry and consumer groups to deliver a net-zero economy, at
the lowest cost to consumers
•Stamping
out sharp and bad practice, ensuring fair treatment for all consumers,
especially the vulnerable
•Enabling
competition and innovation, which drives down prices and results in new
products and services for consumers.
Further information about Ofgem can be found here
Introduction from the Minister
Dear
Candidate,
Thank you for your
interest in becoming the Chair of Ofgem.
You may already
have some idea about the important work of Ofgem and the following pages will
tell you more about the purpose and the nature of the NED’s role. Ofgem is a
non-ministerial government department and its principal objective when carrying
out its functions is to protect the interests of existing and future
electricity and gas consumers. It does this in a variety of ways including:
promoting value for money; promoting security of supply and sustainability, for
present and future generations of consumers, domestic and industrial users; the
supervision and development of markets and competition; and regulation and the
delivery of Government schemes. The
Chair has a key role in leading the organisation, setting strategy, holding
executives to account, and successfully dealing with current and future
challenges in the energy sector.
If you believe you
have the experience and qualities we are seeking to help to lead this important
organisation, we very much look forward to hearing from you.
Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Minister for Energy and Climate)
Introduction from the Chair
As the energy regulator for
Great Britain, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), supervised by
its Board, the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (GEMA), has a vitally
important role in protecting the interests of domestic and non-domestic energy
consumers, both now and in the future.
The challenges ahead are
profound. Our reliance on international gas markets that have been manipulated
by an aggressive state means that geopolitics is playing a far stronger hand in
our energy system than is desirable, or we had planned for. In tandem, seismic changes
in the economics of energy, with low carbon generation rapidly becoming not
only the greener but often the less costly
choice, mean that together we must fundamentally rethink how we plan,
operate, and regulate our energy system. This includes reconsidering how we
think about security of supply, strategic risks, and, assuming that price
volatility may continue to feature for many years to come, how we interact with global energy markets.
Ofgem is playing a pivotal
role in this agenda, taking on new functions and responsibilities from
government, both on the regulatory and delivery side of its operations. As the
outgoing Chair of Ofgem, I am proud to have been part of this very important
mission, and I know my Board colleagues are too. Ofgem’s staff have shown great
dedication and commitment in stepping up to meet the unprecedented challenges
of navigating the energy crisis.
Working closely with government,
the energy sector, and consumer groups, the new Chair will supervise Ofgem’s
work in reshaping a smarter, more flexible, secure and cheaper energy system. Appointed
by the Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Energy and
Industrial Strategy, she or he, with the Board, will be tasked with providing governance
and oversight of an organisation that will play a major role in meeting the
government’s 2035 net zero power system and 2050 net zero targets.
My successor will have the
chance to provide strategic direction across many important issues, ranging from
how to plan, build, and supervise the roll out of new energy infrastructure, at
a pace not seen for decades, to reshaping a retail market that is both
resilient to financial risk, while also sufficiently innovative and dynamic to deliver
new offers to customers. A more flexible energy system will also require a
great deal of new thinking on consumer price protections, how to drive up supplier
standards in a market where the role of people switching may not play the role
once hoped for, and, above all at a time of very high energy bills, how to
ensure that customers in vulnerable situations are treated fairly and properly
protected.
This is a unique opportunity
to provide new leadership to a dedicated, diverse, and high performing workforce,
making a real difference to one of the most important and high-profile
challenges the world faces today.
I have been involved in
regulation and competition in many sectors over the years, both in the UK and
internationally, and I can honestly say there has never been a more significant
moment to take up the role I have had the privilege of fulfilling at Ofgem. Applications
from people of all backgrounds are very welcome, and I would strongly encourage
you to apply.
Martin Cave
Appointment description
The
Chair of the Authority will lead a complex organisation, chair the board
effectively, set strategy and hold executives to account, successfully dealing
with current and future challenges including:
•The rise
in global gas prices and subsequent impact on consumers;
•Restoring
resilience in the retail gas and electricity markets;
•Supporting
continued security of supply;
•Maintaining
progress to net zero;
•Responding
to rapid change in the electricity market, allowing the emergence of smart,
decentralised technologies;
•Implementing
plans for a future system operator;
•New
responsibilities for Ofgem, including the regulation of heat networks and CO2
transport and storage, subject to Parliamentary approval;
•
Taking
on lessons learned from the Oxera
Report and
the BEIS Select Committee Report ; and•Improvement
in the delivery of several HM Government social and environmental schemes.
Organisation description
Ofgem is Great Britain’s independent energy regulator.
We work to protect energy consumers, especially vulnerable people, by ensuring they are treated fairly and benefit from a cleaner, greener environment.
•Our
priority is to make sure that customers’ interests are protected today and that
we can help lead Britain’s effort to meet its climate change goals. We are
passionate about both.
•Many
customers rely on Ofgem’s rules and funding to ensure that their energy needs
are met, particularly at this time of high and volatile prices.
•Equally,
the UK has one of the most ambitious climate change goals in the world and at
the heart of this is our transition from a high carbon traditional energy
system to one that is fully decarbonised by 2050. Ofgem has a key role in
ensuring that we make this change and that customers’ interests are looked
after along the way.
•We
do this through reforming the energy market, directly regulating companies and
taking action against poor behavior and through the delivery of government
schemes for renewable energy, energy efficiency and to protect the poorest
energy customers.
•We
are a ‘Non-Ministerial Department’ – this means we work effectively with, but
independently of, government, the energy industry and other stakeholders.
Board composition
For full details of Ofgems structure and leadership please see here.
Regulation of appointment
This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the
Commissioner’s website 